A traditional carrot cake recipe, bursting with spices and fresh carrot, is topped with a cream cheese buttercream and walnuts roasted in butter. The spices of the cake are set off splendidly by a dense, tangy buttercream. More

I ate at Andy Ricker'sPing a couple of times right when they opened in 2009. The food was a little hit and miss, but one dish was spot-on every time: the carrot cake. Not to be confused with the American dessert, Ricker's carrot cake is actually made from daikon and rice flour, and is sort of like Southeast Asian gnocchi. The dumpling-like cakes come stir-fried in a slightly sweet soy and garlic sauce, scrambled with eggs, bean sprouts, and cilantro. More

I ate at Andy Ricker'sPing a couple of times right when they opened in 2009. The food was a little hit and miss, but one dish was spot-on every time: the carrot cake. Not to be confused with the American dessert, Ricker's carrot cake is actually made from daikon and rice flour, and is sort of like Southeast Asian gnocchi. The dumpling-like cakes come stir-fried in a slightly sweet soy and garlic sauce, scrambled with eggs, bean sprouts, and cilantro. More

When was the last time you had carrot cake? Yeah, it had been a while for me, too. But when a friend couldn't stop raving about the "best he's ever had" carrot cake at Julius Meinl, I figured it was worth a bike ride up to the Viennese pâtisserie's newest location in Ravenswood. More

MarieBelleis best known for their chocolate collection and variety of drinking chocolates, but the next time you step into their Broome Street flagship, walk all the way to the back of the boutique and straight into the Tea Salon. There you'll find all sorts of non-chocolate wonders include this Carrot Cake ($6). Whether you get your tea to stay or to go, there's no way to turn down this cake. It's moist and dense with rough grated carrots and a handful of crushed walnuts. The cinnamon notes come through boldly and the whipped cream cheese frosting has a tangy finish. On a hot day, this is best paired with their Banana Smoothie, a balanced, icy concoction with a whole banana blended straight into the smoothie. Utterly refreshing. More

This simple loaf cake is an easy, unfussy alternative to a layered and iced carrot cake. Toast slices and top them with cream cheese for breakfast, or serve with scoops of vanilla ice cream for dessert. Feel free to swap the walnuts for pecans or raisins. More

Even though they are readily available year round, for some reason I think of carrots as a spring vegetable. Maybe it's that their lively orange hue makes me think of regrowth and rejuvenation, or maybe it's just because they remind me of the Easter bunny. For whatever reason, every year when the warm weather finally hits, I find myself craving carrot cake. More

My mother is one of the loveliest, kindest, most generous people you will ever meet. With a ready and Colgate ad-perfect smile, friends and strangers flock to her. But this charmer has a dark side. Ask her for her carrot cake recipe and she'll reply with a short and decisive "No." It's too bad, really, because—scout's honor—it is the best carrot cake in the world. More